02-data-types

02 - Data Types in Go

This example demonstrates all the basic data types available in Go and their usage. It covers numeric types, strings, booleans, and shows type inference, zero values, and type conversion.

Concepts Covered

1. Basic Types:

   • Integers (signed and unsigned)
   • Floating-point numbers
   • Complex numbers
   • Booleans
   • Strings

2. Special Features:

   • Type inference
   • Zero values
   • Type conversion
   • Value ranges
   • Format printing

Types Overview

Integer Types

• Signed: int8, int16, int32, int64, int
• Unsigned: uint8, uint16, uint32, uint64, uint
• Special: byte (alias for uint8), rune (alias for int32)

Floating-Point Types

• float32 (single precision)
• float64 (double precision)

Complex Numbers

• complex64 (32-bit real and imaginary components)
• complex128 (64-bit real and imaginary components)

Other Basic Types

• bool (true/false)
• string (UTF-8 encoded)

Running the Program

From this directory, run:

go run main.go

Key Takeaways

1. Go is a statically typed language with type inference
2. Each type has a zero value (default value when not initialized)
3. Type conversion must be explicit in Go
4. The int and uint types are platform-dependent (32 or 64 bits)
5. Strings in Go are UTF-8 encoded by default
6. Complex numbers are built into the language
7. The fmt package provides rich formatting options for output

Common Use Cases

• Use int for general integer values unless you need a specific size
• Use float64 for floating-point calculations unless memory is critical
• Use string for text (UTF-8 encoded)
• Use bool for true/false conditions
• Use specific sized types (int64, etc.) when interfacing with external systems or when size matters